Troop news and upcoming events

Families need to make sure they are mailing a check to Mr Frost (his address is in the Troop Roster), this week, if you haven't earlier, for the Troop's annual re-chartering. We have to get this in by January 1. The fees are $30.00 per Scout and $15.00 per Leader. Please call Mr. Frost at 441-6689 for any questions or further details.

I am attaching the current Troop roster. Please check the details and reply with any changes on phone numbers or email addresses.

Also don't forget that the Scout and Leader is going to need his BSA annual physical form completed for summer camp this year as it is required in order to be there. Make sure all the pages are attached on the form as they are all required by the Camp Staff. The fees this year are $205.00 and we will began collecting in February or March for part or all of the fee. The BSA physical form is required by the Troop for all activities.

Well, thanks to all who planned and participated, we had one of our best Christmas parties yet at the Hut Monday night. Thanks to all the leaders who helped in its preparation with the Scouts.

We will keep the Tree Lot open through this coming Saturday, December 18, night to assure, despite how slow it appears, to sell off as many trees as possible as all the trees sitting on the lot remain part of the budget for next year. We will meet on Sunday, December 19th, at 1:00 PM to take the lot down. We will need some volunteers to help out transporting the marquis and scaffolding.

Thanks to Dr. Frank Nelson and Bill Benefield, we are still planning on putting a rebuilt engine or rebuilding the Frank Tank current engine for use for the Camporee in 2011.

The first activity coming up in 2011 will be the Troop Planning Conference on January 8. As earlier stated, this is a Troop activity where the Scouts plan our activities for 2011. The Scout should plan on attending. Leaders are encouraged to attend and participate also to add to the ideas and thier practicality for the Troop.

We will start at 8:30 AM in the conference room adjacent to the Gym in the Bluff Park United Methodist Church. As this is a lock-in activity, the Scouts should bring a sleeping bag and informal clothes for the evening.

Uniform for the activity is the Class A uniform, with the red "Troop "T" Shirt worn under the tan shirt, until we return from Dinner Saturday evening, when they can change to regular clothing.

The cost is $15.00 to cover lunch, dinner, and transportation. We will have lunch at the Church and dinner at the Golden Corral in Hoover. Evening activities for the Scouts will be some leadership training and games. They need to be picked up at 8:00 AM on Sunday, January 9. I will need one or more leader to spend the evening and Scouts will not be permitted to leave without the Scoutmaster's approval.

Also on the 8th, Mr. Simon will be giving two classes: Youth Protection for the all the Troop Leaders who are due for it (each two years or through myscouting.org). The same will also be given to the Scouts that evening. Mr. Simon will also give the certification class for the Troop's merit badge counselors, which is an annual BSA requirement and all our leaders listed on the Troop merit badge counselor list on our web site need to attend this. If you are a leader and teach a merit badge and are not on the Troop list, you need to attend this training also. Please make plans for attending these classes at a time that will be announced by Mr. Simon. If I haven't added you to the merit badge counselor contact list, and you would care to participate and/or have the skills/knowledge to increase our depth on the badges, please call me.

The trip To New Orleans, during the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend is still being planned for less the costs at this time. We will be leaving on January 15th and returning on the 17th. We will not be camping, but rather staying in National Guard buildings for the two evenings along with fast food for meals . Fees will be for fuel for the bus and a follow-on vehicle, fast food, and entrance fees.

The Annual District Banquet is coming up on January 27 at Trinity Methodist in Homewood, usually at about 6:30 PM with meal included. There is not cost. We will have a table for eight and need to know who will be attending with me. Please call if you can make it now so I can register our names and reserve our table.

The Annual District Camporee (18-20) is coming up for February..Mr. Simon will post it on the Troop Web site from the GAC Web site for us to start looking over activities the Scouts will be competing in.

The District Advance O' Rama is coming up March 26th. Mrs. Kidd will provide more details for merit badge registration in the near future.

The annual University of Scouting for leaders will be held in the Spring at the Cullman High School Campus. More details of this will also be announced by Mrs Kidd in the near future. This is a good time to pick up leader certification courses needed by the Troop.

Finally, we will be announcing a wilderness survival first aid course ( two Saturday's) in the Spring or Summer. As in the case of CPR, we have to have a leader with this certification on all trips the troop makes, and with each crew on any high adventure trip that we go on. Please plan on attending to assure our numbers will be where they need to be.

We still need CDL drivers for the bus, as we are diminishing as we speak each year. Please call Dr. Tracy Hamiliton for details since he is the most recently certified.

Thanks for all your support this year and for encouraging attendance. It has made a difference in what we are doing for the boys and portends a great coming new year.

On behalf of our Troop Committee Chairman, Mr. Ken Madison, Reverend Reid Crotty, Pastor, Bluff Park United Methodist Church, the Greater Alabama Council, and all the Scouts and their familes, here's wishing you and yours the best of Merry Christmas's and the Happiest of New Years.



YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"